At 4:30pm on the 28th of December, 2016, little Ana came into this world.

Since then, our favorite activities have included snuggling with her, watching her while she sleeps, and taking countless photos which our families are probably already getting sick of. But you see, we have fallen in love. You know that feeling when you can't stop thinking about someone else, when it seems that your heart could burst from fullness, when you are completely distracted, and  you make everyone around you ill from your shear disconnect from the physical harshness of reality? That is us right now. 

So far, the sleepless nights feel like a small price to pay when we are nuzzled by a little being this is both half him, and half me. The diaper changing is not so much a burden, rather a new adventure that we are embarking on together. Even the most difficult, the fear of failing or somehow getting it wrong, doesn't seem so overwhelming when she gives us a sleepy little smile. 

Needless to say, it is a happy new year. We hope the same for you. 

May 2016 be full of good things... friendships, love, good food, beautiful places.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe that we are already three days into 2016. Last year passed so fast that we didn't even have a chance to solidify our New Years plans until the afternoon of the 31st! In the end, we decided to go camping with some friends. In order to avoid holiday crowds, we chose a destination seemingly far off the beaten path. We crossed on the ferry to Coral and then drove for several hours on rough terrain. We bounced along the Reserva Costera towards the river Colun. We crossed some rickety bridges, crystal clear rivers, and finally made it to the mouth of the river as the sun was starting to set.  We pitched our tents as quickly as possible and then headed out to watch the last sunset of 2015...

hanging out on the ferry!

someone is stoked to go kayaking!

pretty ladies... fellows contemplating with arms crossed...

we were not so sure about this bridge until we saw a huge truck + trailer cross in the opposite direction, what luck or we might have turned back!

aaaa! there's a wolf in our campsite!

are you friend or foe?

Happy New Year !!

We had an absolutely epic New Year's Eve in Rome.  After walking around the city all. day. we headed over to Trastevere for some libations and dinner.  For those of you that have been to this yuppie- hipster neighborhood, you will know that it is more or less a labyrinth of watering-holes and gastropubs offering delicious eats and good vibes.  We arrived to Trastevere around 5pm ready to sit our tired feet down but our dinner reservation wasn't until 8:15.  You can imagine that by the time we got to the restaurant we were happy and much warmer.  If you ever make it to Rome, please go to Isole de Sicilia.  On New Year's Eve this quaint little restaurant was packed and everyone was enjoying good wine, risoto, pasta, fish, panelle, canollo, and every other delicacy from the motherland to the south.  With heavy bellies, we made our way home, back towards the Colosseum, and found the streets packed for a celebratory concert and fireworks.  I have seriously never seen so many people in one city in my entire life.  You could feel the excitement vibrating through the air.  We finally made our way back, though, and several blocks from home I just really didn't think my feet could take another step.  My little was nice enough to give me a piggy-back ride the rest of the way.  Laughter ensued. 

Happy New Year!  May 2013 be as foundational as the ruins of Rome and the relationships I have with my sisters!!!

Balloons, Fireworks, and Resolutions

My week was so jam packed that its already the 6th and I haven't said HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I am not one for formalizing resolutions.  I think you should live you life day to day how you want and change it when it needs changing, not just in January.  BUT... one resolution I will make is to one day return to Colombia for another New Years celebration.

It is a Paisa (ie people from Medellin) tradition to make globos (mini hot air balloons) out of tissue paper for celebrations like birthdays and New Years.  I watched as the primos carefully folded the thin tissues and glued them together using homemade paste made from harina de yuca.  A ball of cotton was then attached with wire to the tissue globe.  The cotton was carefully lit as the family held the orb as it filled with rising hot air.  The globos are beautiful.  They can be all shapes, sizes and colors.  They fly like glowing fairy lanterns above the trees and roof tops.

In between the globos and food and dancing, the boys would get that 12 year old gleam in their eyes and all decided to set off some voladores, or fireworks.  The small casing of explosives is attached to a long wooden stick.  The tail is lit while the brave hold the stick until, wwwwwiiissshhhhh!  The little flyer bursts into the air in a glowing streak.  

New Years 2012 was all things pyrotechnic.  I hope the rest of the year brings as much excitement!